Review of The Lady Vanishes (1938) by Tony P — 27 Oct 2018

The last British film from legendary director Alfred Hitchcock before he earned a well deserved and ultimately successful Hollywood contract.

Hitchcock films are more often than not suspense thrillers in an enclosed environment involving an innocent person, a romantic side story mixed with some comedic elements, an espionage side story and some pushing of technology available at the time.

The Lady Vanishes has all these elements.

It is set in the enclosed space of a cross Europe train journey where a passenger mysteriously goes missing (Miss Froy) and a younger character Iris tries to find her.

The romantic relationship is provided when the engaged Iris enlists the help of a musicologist Gilbert in her search for Froy who she suspects is involved in some foul play.

The train journey is part filmed using miniatures.

The comedy element is provided by a couple of eccentric male characters on the train rushing back to Manchester (why?) for an England test cricket game. The characters being called Charters and Caldicott who even got their own spin off films (not directed by Hitchcock).

Mrs. Froy is involved in British Government espionage in a pre Second World War environment that involves borders and a pacifist passenger. A nod to pacifism to the danger of Nazi Germany?

The film although extremely dated in some areas keeps you glued to its outcome unlike many modern day films.

The film is also an obvious template for forgettable modern day films like Flightplan (Jodie Foster, Sean Bean).

Hitchcock films are the real deal and deserve viewing every now and then. Legend.